Tie down apparatus and method of use

ABSTRACT

A tie down apparatus for a carrier having a storage compartment to carry a recreational vehicle comprises a cross bar, ends of the cross bar being supported by upstanding legs. The cross bar has one or more members extending therefrom that create a space to receive a portion of the recreational vehicle. One or more eyelets are mounted to the cross bar in association with one or more of the space-creating members. Each eyelet serves as an attachment point for a chain, rope, belt or the like to further secure the recreational vehicle in place on the trailer.

This application claims priority from U.S. application Ser. No.60/530,342 filed on Dec. 18, 2003, which is incorporated in its entiretyby reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to securing motorcycles, quads, bicycles andother recreational or industrial items (hereinafter referred to as toysor trailers for toys or recreational vehicles) inside or on a carrier.The invention can be used to significantly improve load capacity, loadefficiency and load weight distribution.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known in the prior art to secure motorcycles, quads, bicycles,snowmobiles, dune buggies or other similar type toys into the bed of apick-up truck or a u-haul type trailer. Typically, these restrainingdevices utilize the front or side walls of the carrier or trailer inconjunction with straps, rope, chain or other similar items that connectwith some form of a hook, latch, bar or ring to tie-down these toys fortravel. The toy itself may be tied down or a trailer supporting the toy,e.g., a wave runner trailer may be tied down.

Present day trailer industry manufacturers build many different modelsand styles of trailers like enclosed cargo, utility and recreationaltravel trailers sometimes referred to as “toy haulers” or “sporttrailers”. Many of these trailers provide a rear or front ramp thatdrops down for loading and unloading of the toys inside the trailer.This adds additional weight and the distribution of this added weight tothese types of trailers is an issue noted in the trailer manufacturers'“owners manual” as guidelines for the consumer. One example of a toyhauler is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,726 to Parmer, hereinincorporated in its entirety by reference.

To restrain the toys found in the trailers, the prior art employs avariety of rings extending across metal recessed cups, which are usuallyflush mounted in the floor of the trailer. The rings interface with thefree end of a strap, rope, chain or other similar type matter forsecurement purposes.

Another device employs a floor-mounted receiver that utilizes anaperture designed to receive the front or rear wheel of the toy that itis intended to secure, with the toy sliding into place.

Yet another prior art device employs a plunger, which, when aligned withan aperture in the track, permits the toys to be latched and held atthat particular place.

The prior art devices discussed above are not without their problemsthough. Devices utilizing rings as the tie down or anchor that aremounted in the floor at fixed locations leave little flexibility toadjust for multiple toys to be secured. The angles sometimes needed tosecure multiple toys require multiple rings for security and are only asgood as the holding power of the straps, rope, chain or other likematter. Also, rings or ring-like devices do not create a front or reartire stopping point or wall from which the wheels can be independentlysecured.

While the prior art floor mounted track may be adequate for multipleadjustments, it does not create a front or rear tire stopping point orwall from which the wheels can be independently secured. The track mustalso be maintained to remain free from sand, gravel and excessive dirtor rocks that may impede its ability to allow apertures that attach tothe track to slide free for adequate adjustment.

Still another problem exists with conventional tie down or anchordevices or methods, which rely solely on straps, ropes, chains or othersimilar methods of securing the toys. These methods and devices have atendency to loosen with excessive movement of the transporting vehicle.That is, the secured toys are held down by a strap or similar item andin part by the tension in the suspension of the secured toys themselves.Without a secondary position locking method and/or device in place, aloosened strap allows the toy to move freely about the towing vehicleand come into damaging contact with other toys or trailer/carriercomponents.

Therefore, a need exists for a novel arrangement that overcomes thedeficiencies in the prior art discussed above. The present inventionresponds to this need by providing a secondary source of securing thetoys for travel, as well as an integrated device that spreads the weightacross a large amount of the trailer floor space to more adequatelyposition the load for travel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is a first object of the invention to provide an improvedtie down apparatus for restraining toys, their carriers, or recreationalvehicles during transport. More specifically, this invention relates tosecuring the above listed toys for travel “in” or “on” different typesof utility, cargo or travel trailers or vehicles (hereinafter referredto as a carrier).

Another object of the invention is a tie down apparatus that uses asecuring means to restrain lateral movement, forward or backwardmovement, and allow for the use of flexible elongate members forsecurement.

A further object of the invention is the combination of a tie downapparatus and a carrier for a toy or a toy carrier.

The problems and difficulties noted above are alleviated by the presentinvention, which provides a novel tie down or anchoring means and asecondary source of securing the toys independently to a crossbar as astopping point for forward, backward or side-to-side movement, and tosecure toys for travel in or on the towing vehicle or carrier.

In satisfaction of the foregoing objects and advantages, the presentinvention provides a tie down apparatus for securing one or morerecreational vehicles in a storage compartment of a carrier comprising across bar and a pair of support legs. Each support leg is adapted toattach to the storage compartment, with a portion of each support legfurther adapted to support one end of the cross bar above a floor of thestorage compartment.

At least one securing member is provided, each securing member beingmounted to the cross bar and shaped or configured to extend therefrom.The attachment of the one or more securing members to the cross barcreates a space to receive a portion of the recreational vehicle. One ormore eyelets or other aperture-containing structures are mounted to ormade part of the cross bar, with at least one of the eyelets associatedwith each pair of members. Each member of the pair can have acorresponding eyelet if desired, and attachment of the eyelet to thecross bar can also secure the respective member to the cross bar. Themembers and/or eyelets can be adjusted along the length of the cross barto accommodate differently sized recreational vehicles.

The cross bar can be removably attachable to the support legs, and canbe made in sections to allow for adjustment in width. A number of thesecuring members, each also being removably attached to the cross bar,can be utilized to permit securement of more than one vehicle.

Each support leg can employ a bracket with a slot sized to receive anend of the cross bar for cross bar mounting. The support leg can alsoemploy a raised portion positioned at an end of the bracket to preventcross bar travel after slot engagement.

The invention also entails the combination of the tie down apparatus anda storage compartment of a carrier. The carrier can be a vehicle, atrailer, or virtually anything with a compartment that can receive arecreational vehicle or vehicle carrier for transport.

The invention is also an improvement in methods of hauling one or morerecreational vehicles using a carrier having a storage compartmentthrough the use of the inventive tie down apparatus.

In one preferred embodiment, the invention utilizes floor mounted legsand a crossbar system that fastens to the legs to create a place insidethese types of trailers to secure the toys for travel. Utilizingopposite sides of the crossbar for securing the items independentlyspreads the distribution of weight, organizes the toys for highercapacity, creates an easy loading method, and helps the consumer complywith the manufacturer's recommendations. The crossbar also creates anadditional forward or rear abutment that acts as a stopping point orwall that does not allowing the toys or recreational vehicles to movefrom that position once they are secured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made to the drawings accompanying the inventionwherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the inventive tie downapparatus with one part in exploded view;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the support legs of the tie downapparatus;

FIG. 3 is one side view of the support leg of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another side view of the support leg taken 90 degrees from theview of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cross bar of FIG. 1 in an explodedview; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative securing member of thetie down apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is a tie down apparatus that allows one or more toys orrecreational vehicles to be secured for travel in or on a trailer orcarrier. Recreational vehicles or toys are also considered to encompassa carrier of a toy or vehicle such as a wave runner trailer. In thismode, the trailer wheel could be restrained by the tie down apparatusrather than the wave runner itself. In one embodiment, the tie downapparatus comprises two floor mounted legs that rise in a pyramid-likeshape to a housing or cradle used to receive the crossbar. The legs aresecured to the floor with carriage bolts, locking nuts and washers. Thecrossbar slides into the cradle of the legs and utilizes a push/pulllocking pin to secure the crossbar to the legs. Holes are positioned inthe crossbar for assembly of two splice bars and to allow apertures usedto secure the front or rear wheel of the toy, to be positioned andlocked to the crossbar for adjustment to secure one or more toys. Thetoy is then independently secured by hand with a strap, rope, chain,belt or other matter so as to connect the toy to eyelets or aperturesassociated with the crossbar, which can be easily moved for adaptablepositions.

Referring to FIG. 1, the tie down apparatus, in one mode of theinvention is designated by the reference numeral 10 and is seen toinclude a cross bar 1 and a pair of upstanding support legs 3.

The legs 3 are pyramidal in shape and have base flanges 5 adapted to bemounted to the floor of a trailer using conventional fasteners 7. Whilethe legs 3 are shown as pyramidal, the legs could have other shapes andcould be attached to other parts of the trailers, e.g., a sidewall orthe like. Likewise, other base configurations could be used. The legs 3raise the cross bar 1 from the floor 9 of the trailer to provide a stopagainst movement of the recreational vehicles when being transported bythe trailer, as well as providing rigidity and stability to the crossbar 1 to secure the recreational vehicles.

Referring to FIGS. 2–4, the legs 3 also have supporting means designatedas 11 for securing the cross bar 1 at an upper end portion 13 thereof.The securing means 11 includes a bracket 15 that is fixed at the upperend 13, preferably by welding. The bracket 15 forms a slot 17, which issized to receive the cross bar end 19 in a sliding engagement, see FIG.3. The upper end 13 includes a raised portion 21, see FIG. 4, whichfunctions as another stop to prevent travel of the cross bar end 19 wheninserted into the bracket 15. Each bracket 15 has a pair of alignedthrough holes 23, which receive a tethered pin 25 for attachment of thecross bar 1 to the legs 3.

Referring to FIG. 5, the cross bar 1 has aligned through holes 27 oneach end 19, each through hole 27 intended to align with the throughholes 23 in the brackets 9 for securement. The tethered pin 25 extendsthrough each pair of through holes. It should be understood that othermodes of attachment to secure the cross bar 1 to each of the legs 3 canbe employed, e.g., a fixed attachment such a welding, or other removableattachment modes such as clamps, nuts and bolts, or the like.

The cross bar 1 can be one piece but is preferably made in a number ofpieces or side bars to allow for adjustment in its length andaccommodate different size trailers, and different spacings for thesecuring means. In FIG. 5, one embodiment is shown wherein five segmentsare employed, two sides bars 29, two splice bars 31, and a center bar33. The splice bars 31 are sized to telescope within the center bar 33and side bars 29. Each of the bars 31 and 33 are equipped with throughholes 35 on each end with the side bars 29 having the holes 35 on justone end. The holes of one bar are designed to align with the holes of anadjacent bar for attachment purposes using the nut 37 and bolt 39fasteners. The various bars could be made in different lengths and withappropriate positioned openings so that a desired carrier width can bematched by the right combination of bars.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the cross bar is also equipped with a secondset of through holes 41 that are designed to work with the securingmeans 43 mounted to the cross bar. The securing means in this modecomprises a pair of plates 45, each plate equipped with a correspondingeyelet 47. Each eyelet end 49 is sized to pass through the holes 41 andbe secured using a pin 51. Each plate 45 is shaped to extend generallyperpendicularly from the cross bar, with the pair of plates 45 creatinga space 53 to receive a portion of a recreational vehicle such as awheel or tire. Each plate 45 can also be equipped with a flange 57having an opening 59 adapted to receive the eyelet end 49 so that theeyelet 47 also secures the plate 45 to the cross bar. While a pair ofplates are employed, a single u-shaped member or other shaped membercould be mounted to the cross bar with one or more eyelets forsecurement purposes, the single securing member creating the space 53 asis done with the pair of plates 45. FIG. 6 shows such a member 90creating the space 53, with flanges 91 and openings 93 for cross barattachment.

As seen in FIG. 1, the eyelets 47 can be used alone or in combinationwith the plates 45, with the eyelet opening 59 allowing for attachmentof a flexible elongate member such as a chain, belt, strap or the likefor securing the recreational vehicle to the cross bar. The plates 45also have additional openings 46 for securement purposes. It should alsobe understood that the plates 45 and eyelets 47 could be attachedseparately from each other, and other modes of attachment of the platesand/or eyelets could be employed. The through holes 41 can be positionedin a variety of locations on the various cross bar pieces to allow foradjustability of the placement of the plates 45 and eyelets 47 toaccommodate different types of recreational vehicles. Using the eyelet47 to secure the plates 45 to the cross bar 1 is more efficient since iteliminates the need to have a separate fastening system for the plates45. It should also be noted that the splice bars 31 are also equippedwith through holes 41 to allow the eyelet ends 49 to pass through thetelescoped junction of the splice bars 31 and side and center bars 29and 33. Finally, while a pair of eyelets 47 are shown in combinationwith the plates 45, a single eyelet 47 could be used as well. Moreover,the term eyelet is intended to include any structure that provides anopening or other aperture allowing for securement of the recreationalvehicle using an elongate member such as a chain, strap, rope or thelike. FIG. 1 also shows a set of plates 45 positioned opposite othersets of plates 45.

In use, the legs 3 would be mounted to the floor 9 of a trailer, and thecross bar 1, after assembly, would be attached to the brackets 15 usingthe pins 25. The securing means 43 could then be mounted to theappropriate locations on the cross bar 1, and one or more recreationalvehicles could then be mounted by positioning a portion of thevehicle(s) in one or more of the spaces 53, and further securing thevehicles with tensioned straps or the like between the eyelets 47 andthe vehicles. If a one piece bar is employed, the securing means 43could be attached to the cross bar prior to attachment of the bar to thesupporting legs. With the portion of the recreational vehicle confinedin the space 53 created by the pair of plates 45, lateral movement ofthat vehicle portion and the vehicle itself is restrained, thusincreasing the stability of the recreational vehicle and its trailerduring its transport. As noted above, since the cross bar 1 is elevatedfrom the trailer floor 9, it also acts as a stop against movement of therecreational vehicle in the direction towards the cross bar.

While plates are depicted as the shape for creating the space 53,virtually any type of a member that could be mounted to the cross barand extend therefrom can be used, e.g., rods, pipes, or the like.

While the tie down apparatus is exemplified for use in a trailer, it canbe employed in any type of a carrier, vehicle, trailer or the likehaving a storage compartment, whether it be a trailer compartment, thebed of an open or closed truck, a van, or the like.

As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of preferredembodiments thereof, which fulfills each and every one of the objects ofthe present invention as set forth above and provides new and improvedtie down apparatus and method of use.

Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations from theteachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilledin the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof.It is intended that the present invention only be limited by the termsof the appended claims.

1. A tie down apparatus for securing one or more recreational vehiclesin a storage compartment of a carrier comprising: a) a cross bar; b) apair of support structures, each support structure further comprising:i) a base and means for attaching the base to a floor of the storagecompartment; and ii) at least one leg extending upward from the basewith the leg terminating at a portion having means to removably supportone end of the cross bar above the floor of the storage compartment; c)at least one pair of members, each member being adapted for reversiblemounting to either side of the cross bar and shaped to extend therefrom,the attachment of the pair of members to the cross bar creating a spacein between the pair of members to receive a portion of the recreationalvehicle, and d) means for laterally restraining one said recreationalvehicle whose tire is positioned between the at least one pair ofmembers.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each member of the pairhas an eyelet, attachment of the eyelet to the cross bar also securingthe member to the cross bar.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein eachmember and each eyelet are removably attachable to the cross bar.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of said pair of membersmounted to the cross bar.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the crossbar further comprises a plurality of side bars, the side bars adapted toconnect to each other to form the cross bar.
 6. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the removable supporting means comprises a bracket with aslot sized to receive an end of the cross bar on the top portion, and araised portion positioned at an end of the bracket to prevent cross bartravel.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one pair ofmembers are part of a u-shaped member mounted to the cross bars theu-shaped member creating said space to receive said portion of therecreational vehicle.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the laterallyrestraining means includes an eyelet attached to at least one of themembers.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of theleg angles outwardly as the leg extends from the top portion to thebase.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base has a substantiallygreater bottom portion than the top portion.
 11. In a storagecompartment of a carrier, the storage compartment having a means forsecuring one or more recreational vehicles, the improvement comprisingthe tie down apparatus of claim 1 mounted in the carrier as the meansfor securing.
 12. In a method of hauling one or more recreationalvehicles using a carrier having a storage compartment for the one ormore recreational vehicles, the improvement comprising securing the oneor more recreational vehicles in the storage compartment using the tiedown apparatus of claim
 1. 13. In a toy hauler having a storagecompartment for hauling vehicles, the improvement comprising theapparatus of claim 1 mounted to a floor of the storage compartment.